Western US Food Festivals

Top Western US Food Festivals:

Hawaii Food & Wine Festival:

Official Site: Hawaii Food & Wine
When: October - November
Location: Oahu, Hawaii, and Maui islands
Description: The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival is the premier epicurean destination event in the Pacific. The Festival takes place over two weeks on multiple islands, featuring a roster of over 100 internationally-renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. Co-founded by two of Hawai‘i’s own James Beard Award-winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, it showcases wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, one-of-a-kind excursions, and exclusive dining opportunities with dishes highlighting the state’s bounty of local produce, seafood, beef and poultry.

Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival:

Official Site: LAFW
When: August
Location: Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Description: This epicurean event showcases the finest in food and drink culture throughout Los Angeles, and culinary personalities from throughout the country. The event spans the city and offers guests the chance to sample the cuisines and products from some of the most prominent epicurean influencers. The star-studded lineup has included celebrated chefs such as Curtis Stone, Michael Chiarello, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Thomas Keller, Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine, and local favorites such as Rory Herrmann, Michael Voltaggio, Matsuhisa Nobu, and Sang Yoon.

Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off:

Official Site: Nugget Rib Cook-Off
When: August - September
Location: Sparks, NV
Description: The Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off is America's biggest and best free rib competition, turning downtown Sparks into a must-attend culinary, music, craft, and family end-of-summer affair. Enjoy great food and top-name entertainment on five different stages all weekend long. Also, don't miss the Annual Nugget Rib Eating Championship featuring the top professional eaters from around the world!

Gilroy Garlic Festival:

Official Site: Gilroy Garlic Festival
When: July
Location: 7473 Monterey Rd, Gilroy, CA
Description: The Gilroy Garlic Festival offers great garlicky food, live cooking competitions, and lots of fun for the whole family. The heart of the Garlic Festival is Gourmet Alley, the gigantic outdoor kitchen where the world-famous “Pyro Chefs” put on a spectacular flame-up show while preparing garlic-laced calamari and scampi in huge iron skillets. Other Festival favorites include pepper steak sandwiches, pasta con pesto, fried calamari, and sausage sandwiches, as well as Gilroy garlic fries and garlic bread. And don’t forget the only-in-Gilroy garlic ice cream.

Honorable Mentions: